Non-clogging outlet valve for tank for mixing cementitious materials



March 26, 1957 W. D. BROWN NON-CLOGGING OUTLET VALVE FOR TANK FOR MIXING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS Filed NOV. l, 1954 mile.'

I l l I INVENTOR.

United States arent NON-CLOGGING OUTLET VALVE FOR TANK FR MIXING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS Warren Durand Brown, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 1, 1954, Serial No. 465,993 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-1212) The present invention relates generally to the mixing of cementitious materials. More specifically, the invention relates to a non-cloggingy outlet valve for tanks used for both the mixing of cementitious materials and the dispensing of same under pressure.

Cement, concrete mixtures, mortar, plaster and other cementitious mixtures are sometimes mixed in tanks yby means of agitators, or by tumbling or rotating the tank, and the completed, uniform mixture conveyed to the point of use by pressurizing the mixing vessel and forc ing the lnn'x through tubes, hoses or piping. in some ceses, the mix is prepared in one tank and then transferred to a second tank to which pressure is applied for transporting the material to the place where it is to be used. in either case a valve is required on the discharge line adjacent to the mixing tank, which is commonly of the folded rubber tube type, to control the movement of material in the discharge line subsequent to pressurization.

When cement, sand, aggregate and water are dumped into aV mixing tank with a'revolving agitator, the mixture is non-homogeneous for a'period of several minutes. A plug of the imperrectly mixed material is likely to form in the discharge opening and prevent movement of theV charge through the discharge line by the pressure in the tank. Even if the discharge opening is not plugged, unmixed ingredients collected in the discharge opening are likely to oe carried into the discharge line with the charge to cause plugging elsewhere in the lines wherever a restriction of some sort is encountered. In two tank systems, the rubber valve between the tanks contains no restriction and the discharge line is short so that plugging is less likely to occur. ln single tank machines, however, the discharge line valves previously used, even if containing little restriction in themselves, are placed of necessity a few inches behind the tank outlet to accommodate coupling, so that unmixed material, whichis swept into the discharge line by the action of the revolving mixer blades, often forms a plug at-this point which necessitates blowing back for removal. iiowing back consists of discharging the mixing tank air'pressure, and then applying a high air pressure to the far'end of the hose or piping so that the pressure differential will force the plug back into the swirling mass. lf the plug formed by the mixing action does not jam or wedge in the opening, it will travel inside the pipe undergthe air pressure until some restriction in cross-sectional area, or sharp bend in the hose is reached, and there'form a wedge which is often' extremely diiiiculttoremove if it cannot be blown back immediately. Even though it does not harden by setting of the cement, the time required to locate the plug, remove the section of hose containing it, and'then slowly washing it out, often amounts to an hour or more. lt can be seen that such manipulation is extremely costly in a labor saving device of this sort where a large-volume of material must be mixed andforced continuously 70 through the hose to the discharge nozzle location in order tov'make it economical. Blowing back is costly,

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and anything which will cause a plug in the hose must be avoided.

Plugging can occur in the discharge line from two tank systems as well, if the unmixed lump does not get brokeny up before being swept out through the second tank outlet, and so a valve of my new design is useful, also, .as the valve between the two tanks. Two tank systems are more expensive than one tank system, and arev used principally .on the larger projects.

Also, when a cement tank has been blown, a small amount of the mix is generally left in the valving mechanism where it has theY opportunity to set slightly before the next charge is blown. This also leads to plugging of lines and interference with valve operation.

It is a principal object of this invention, therefore, to provide a non-clogging outlet valve for tanks for mixing cementitious materials, andl particularly for tanks adapted also for dispensing such material under pressure.

it is a further object of this invention, therefore, to provide a valve in tanks for mixing cementitious materials which will prevent formation of cloggingl formations and unmixed ingredients in the inlet portion of the valve.

A still further object is to provide a non-clogging valve which is self-cleaning, that is, which will not only prevent collection of poorly mixed or partially set mixtures but which also will return residual mixture therein to the tank for mingling with a subsequent charge therein.

A yet further object is to provide a simple, rugged and non-clogging valve for cement tanks which may be readily attached to already existing tanks and other cementhandling equipment and which is readilyV serviced, inspected and maintained.

Still other objects and advantages will be apparent, or will become apparent, from the following more detailed description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational vi-ew,with por- 'v tions broken away, showing a portion of a tank wall and a valve of this invention attached thereto; and,

Figure 2 is a front View, partially in section, showing positioning of the valve of Figure l, the view being taken along the line 2 -2 of Figure 1.Y

Referring now to the drawings, it will be'seen thatthe tank l@ has a'curved wall and is provided'with a revolving agitator blade 23. Near its lowermost point the tank lil is provided -with an aperture i3 in' which is mounted a valve embodying the improvements of the present invention. The valve includes a tubular casing il. which is eceived in the aperture 13 and secured to the tank 10 by a continuous weld extending completely around the` tubular casing 11 `to form a complete seal between the casing 1i and the tank lil; The casing i1 includes'ga separate lower section 12 which may be formed bvcutting the tubular casing along the line indicated bythe reference character 15 which extends longitudinally along the casing from its right-hand end, as viewed in Figure 1, to a point spaced from the tankk lib, and thence'ldownwardly with a slope approximating that of the tank wall at the aperture 113. Two short angles 14 are mounted on the tank 1t) at opposite sides of the casing l1 by welding the ends of their horizontally and vertically extending .ianges to th'e tank 16.

The lower casing section 12 is welded to the' upper` side lof a horizontally-disposedplate 16 which extendsin spaced relation 'below the horizontal anges ofthe angles i4. Two supports 17 are mounted on'the plate 16 and|- extend upwardly therefrom to engage the casing sectionr l2 at opposite sidesthereof to provide additional'support therefor. the/main or upper portion of the casinglladjacent'the outer orright-hand end of thejv casing 1i; as seen in Fig ure l, A secondplateiil'is disposed in spaced, parallel Two supporting brackets i8 are welded to:

arsaeos relation below the plate 16 and secured thereto by a pair of bolts 20. The assembly comprising the lower casing section 12, the plates 16 and i9 and the hereinafter described parts carried thereby is supported from the angles 14 and the supporting brackets 18 by a rst pair of bolts 21 which extend through the plates i6 and 19 and into tapped openings provided in the supporting brackets 18, `and a second pair of bolts 22 extending through the plates 16 and i? and into tapped openings provided in the horizontal flanges of the angles 14. It will now be seen that in the above described construction the lower casing section 12 and the main casing 11 will be forced together by tightening the bolts 21 and 22.

A flexible resilient liner is `disposed within the casing 11 and may be made of rubber, plastic or other suitable material. The outer or right-hand end of the liner 3d is anchored relative to the right-hand end of the casing 11, as viewed in Figure l, by a sleeve member 32 extending into the outer end of the liner 3@ and provided with annular radially outwardly projecting iianges 24 which are received in complementary grooves 31 formed in the inner surface of the liner 30. The sleeve member 32 is also provided with a larger radially outwardly extending iiange 33 which overlies the outer end of the liner 30 and its outer marginal portion is received in an annular groove 34 formed internally of the casing 11, adjacent its outer end, the lower part of the groove 3d being formed in the lower section 12 of the casing. Outwardly of the flange 33 the sleeve member 32 is brazed A or welded to an annular retaining collar 35 which is also secured to the male portion 3'7 of a pipe union or other connecting device. Male portion 37' of the union its inside a female coupling member 38 having an inner gasket or sealer ring 39 to provide a tight seal with the other half of the coupling, not shown. By this construction, the sleeve member 32 is held in place by collar 35 engaging the ends of the casing members 11 and 12 and when these are forced together, the outer end of the liner 30 is sealed against leakage of materials from the tank 10, the interior of which is at times under a pres- Sure of the order of 100 lbs. per square inch or more.

The liner 30 is also sealed about the tank discharge opening 13 in a novel manner. At its inner end 51 the liner 30 is inclined with a slope substantially equal to the sloped portion of cut line between the casing sections 11 and 12. It will be noted that the liner 30 extends slightly beyond the cut line 15 so that the inner end 51 of the liner 30 is disposed wholly within the main section of the casing 11. The casing 11 also includes a portion disposed adjacent the end 51 of the liner 30 and providing an annular shoulder 26 against which the end 51 of the liner is abutted. in the preferred embodiment illustrated, this casing portion 25 is formed of a Short tubular piece securely mounted in the main tubular casing portion 11 at its inner or left-hand end as viewed in Figure l and having its inner end arcuately formed as indicated at to form a continuation of the inner sur face of the tank 10.

The casing portion 25 has an internal diameter substantially equal to forming a continuation of the passage defined by the liner 30. The liner 30, adjacent its inner end 51 is anchored in abutting relation with casing portion 25 by a tubular ferrule 52 which also serves to prevent collapsing of liner 30 at its inner end 51 and provide a seal between the inner end 51 of the'liner 30 and the tubular casing 11. The ferrule 52 has an internal diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the liner 30 when the latter is in its free condition, and is received within the liner 30 at the end 51. The ferrule 52 extends parallel to the liner end 51 and has an axial extent such that, and is so disposed that it overlies the inclined portion of the parting line 15 between the casing sections 11 and 12. It will thus be seen that tightening of the bolts 2l and 22 will grip the portion of the liner 30 adjacent the end 5i between the ferrule 52 and the casing parts 11 and 12 and press the liner end 51 against the abutting surface 26 of the casing portion 25, thereby securely anchoring the inner end of the liner 3i) and preventing leakage between the liner 30 and the casing parts 11 and 12.

Closure of the valve of this invention is effected by displacing the bottom portion of liner 30 upwardly until it assumes a position as indicated in dotted lines in Figare i. In this position, the top inner tubular surface of ringlike element 52 functions as a seat against which the closure of the tubular liner is effected. Lifting of liner 30 is effected by a pistonlike finger 6d mounted below the plate i6. The finger 60 is itted within a guide sleeve eil which is extended upward through plate 16 and lower casing member i2. Vertical movement of the finger 61% is effected by a piston 62 attached to finger 60. The piston 62 has a iexible sealer element 63 of leather or rubber to insure sealing thereabout within a cylindrical easing or cylinder 64 carried between plates 16 and 19. Air, steam, hydraulic fluid or other pressurized fluid is introduced under piston 62 through .an inlet line 65 and a passageway 66 bored in plate 19. Return to the lower rest position is accomplished by a compression spring 6'7 positioned around finger 6i) and between guide collar 6l and piston 62. The space 63 is made airtight by means of a ringlike gasket 69 located in a circular recess formed in the upper side of plate 19 and receiving the lower edge of cylinder 64. An airtight seal above piston 62 is not required, in fact, an air vent passageway 7i) is provided in upper plate i6, as is shown in Figure 2, in order to facilitate up and down movement of piston 62.

As indicated above, the introduction of air or other iiuid under pressure under piston 62 raises finger 60, forcing it upwardly through sleeve 61 and into contact with liner 30. At its point of fullest extension, the finger 6% forces the lower half of the liner 39 into sealing engagement against a part of the inner circumference ot ringlike element 52 and a part of the inner surface of. the upper half of the liner 30.

When the finger 6i? is in this upper position in which the passage through the liner 36 is closed, the lin r sumes a position substantially as shown in broken lines in Figure l, in which the liner 39, inwardly of the casing 1l from the nger 69, assumes a contour approxi'ning the contour of the adjacent portion of the tank so that when the tank is charged with dry sand, cement and water, no plugs or clogs of unmixed material can lodge in the outlet out of the path of the agitator blades 23, where upon opening the outlet valve they would be forced into the hose whereupon the plug of unmixed material reaching a restriction or the nozzle, the discharge would be interfered with and eventually stopped. it will thus be Iseen that it is an important feature of the present invention that in closing the valve the liner 30 is so folded that the resulting pocket in the outlet area is very small and unmixed lumps would quickly be swept back into the main swirling mass within the tank 10 by the agitator blades 23. To facilitate this result the annular surface 26 against which the inner end of the liner 3b abuts, is disposed close to the inside surface of the tank Il@ so that when the finger 60 is in its raised or closed position the liner 3@ is folded correspondingly close to the inner surface of the tank 1G. The up and down movement of liner 30 has a purging action which cleans the valve-sealing surfaces and insures proper action and tight sealing at all times. If desired, the action of finger 66 can be integrated with the materials charging inlet of the tank to prevent the opening of the discharge valve during charging of unmixed ingredients. The simple attaching means makes it relatively easy to install the Valve of this invention on existing cement mixing equipment.

`While it is clear that the embodiment of the invention illustrated is wellcalculated to accomplish the objectsof 5 I negation f-itgvill beunderstoodzthatpninerousmo diad@ ewifhaat 'derartige .1 .A nilsls'si-nsioutletwalt@ ,feraienk adapted@ rn'xingTeernentit'ous materials and Ahaving a vcurve-d wall iirrtinfaiiasentits tomarlas @ist d@ ing @discharge `,apert e'and having `an a at vi blade I .longtheinherfacngf Said kwall gooien @Desespera- =tionoft`saidtank, said valve comprising a `tubular. casing `ing `tsinner,en-d adapted -tobe secured to said 'tank .ound .saidapertureland formed vvith.x a curvature similar hatof aid-wallionswhereby said ca singrhasa L ide andla'long side, Yiiex'ible tubular `Vner received aid lcasingy and having one end .inclined and disposed :a y'saidinnerfend 'ofsa'id casing, means for securing s'aidonelendofisaid"lineragainst movement relative to if k' nd providing'aseal-preventing material from sa apxkiifrom gettingibetween. said casing andy said` iiner, ,said-tubular casing-.having anapertureradially thereof in isa'd Y long side, ,a ngerlmount'ed for Vmovement y through ,said l aperture .between a closed position in which itis Leiective tojcollapse sai-d,linertoprevent the-flow of materialthrough said linerandan open position in whichfsaid linerfis.. permitted to assumeits normal tubular shape, sai apertureand sai-d finger being so spacedlrelative to said 'foneend of said casing that movement of said iinger into theposition in which said linertis col-lapsed causes a porl:tioriof the liner at one side of said finger to assume vva position inwhich it approximates the contour of the inner ysurfac-:e of said wallportion of saidtank adjacent said ,aperturewhereby .said casing and said portion of said liner define. afpocket outwardly ofthe inner surface of said tank 'which is Vso small thatl any masses of unmixed material collectingtherein will be removed therefrom by the action of the agitatorwblade before reaching a size `sufcient to produce a clogging effect, and means for moving said Tfinger between said closed lposition and said openposition. l"Z, A noni-clogging outlet valve for. a tank adaptedvfor mixing cementitious materials andhaving a curved wall rtion adjacent its lowermost point dening adischarge ,aperture and having an agitatorfblade which is moved ongthe `inner surface of'said Wall portion during operation of `said tank, said valve comprising a tubular casing having its inner .endadapted to be secured to said tank v `around said aperture and formedwithacuxvature similar {oft-hatl of said wall portion whereby said casing has a short side and a long side, a Flexible tubular liner received in said casing and having one end inclined and disposed adjacent said inner end of said casing, said `casing including a section at said long side of said casing, one end of which is inclined similarly to said one end of said `liner and disposed to overlie said liner adjacent said one end thereof, a cylindrical ferrule fitted within said one end of said liner and having its inner and outer edges parallel to said one end of said casing section and disposed at opposite sides thereof, said ferrule supporting said one end of said liner against collapse, means for moving said one end of said casing section to grip said one end of said liner between said ferrule disposed internally thereof and said casing and casing section disposed externally thereof for securing said one end `of said liner against movement relative to said casing and providing a seal preventing material from said tank from getting between said casing and said liner, said tubular casing having an aperture radially thereof in said long side, a finger mounted for movement through said aperture between a closed position in which it is etfective to collapse said liner to prevent the ow of material through said iiner and an open position in which said liner is permitted to assume its normal tubular shape, said aperture and said finger being so spaced relative to said one end oi said casing that 1novement of said ngcr into the position in which said liner is coliapsed ycauses a portion of the 4liner at one side of said finger to assume a position in which it approximates thessntain'ioft'ths inner surfasenf said wall-.perdon .of said tank adjacent VSaidaperturewhereby,said .casing :and said portion of said liner define a pocket outwardlyof theinner surface of said tankwhich is so small that any masses of unmixed materialcollecting therein will `be removed therefrom by the action `of Athe agitator blade Abefore reaching a size sutiicient to produce ae-clogging effect, and means 'for moving said finger ybetween 1said lclosed position and s aid open position.

3.a,A non-clogging outlet valve .as defined in'claim 2 wherein said finger in `moving lbetweensaid .open and closed positions moves along aline intersecting the por- 4tion of said ferrule at said short side Aof said casing Lvand when in said closed position collapses a part ofthe portion of said liner normally `at said long side of saidca'sing against said portion of said ferrule. 4 i

4. A non-clogging outletvvalve for a tank adapted lfor mixing cementitious materials `and'having .a lcurvedV vwall portion adjacent'its ,lowermos't point defining ,a discharge aperture and having an agitator blade which isv moved along the inner surface of said wall portion during operation ofsaid tank, said valve comprising a tubularcasing having its inner end adapted `to be secured to saidvtank around said aperture and formed with a curvature similar to that of said wall portion wherebysaid casing has a. short side and a long side, a 4liexible tubular liner received in said casing and having one end inclined and disposed adjacent said innerend Vof said casing, means `for securing said one end of said liner against movement relative to said 'casing end providing a seal preventing material from said tank fromgetting between said cas- `ing and said liner, saidrcasinghaving a shortsection `at said inner/end having an internal diameter substantially equal tothe internal` diameter of said liner and havingan inclined annular shoulder .engaging andsupporting said oneend'of said liner, saidetubular casing having an aperture radially-thereof in saidlongsidava finger mounted for `movement through said aperture :between la closed position in which itis-,effective to collapsesaiduliner to .prevent theow of material through said liner Aand ,an openposition in whichsaid liner is permittedto assume its -Vnormal tubulargshapatsaid aperture and saidfinger beingso spaced relativetosaid one end of said casing that movement of said iingerinto the position inwhich saidtliner `isrcollapsed causesaZ portionoftheiliner at one; side of said fngerto as$ume,a position in which .it approximates the contour of the inner surface of said wall portion of said tank adjacent said aperture whereby said casing and said portion of said liner define a pocket outwardly of the inner surface of said tank which is so small that any masses of unmixed material collecting therein will be removed therefrom by the action of the agitator blade before reaching a size suliicient to produce a clogging effect, and means for moving said finger between said closed position and said open position.

5. A non-clogging outlet valve for a tank adapted for mixing cementitious materials and having a curved Wall portion adjacent its lowermost position defining a discharge aperture, said valve being adapted to provide an unrestricted outlet passage for said materials and comprising a cylindrical casing disposed tangentially of said curved wall portion, a resilient tubular liner disposed within said casing, one end of said casing having an arcuate shape substantially the same as that of said Wall portion of said tank at said aperture and providing a long side of said casing and a short side thereof, said liner having its end adjacent said tank sloped similarly to said wall portion at said aperture and disposed close to said one end of said casing, said casing including a movable section at said long side thereof and having its end ad,- jacent said tank inclined and disposed to overlie said liner adjacent said sloped end of said liner, means for preventing collapse of said end of said liner and maintaining an outlet passage through said end of said liner substantially equal in diameter to the internal diameter of said tubular liner when the latter is in its free condition, means for moving said movable section to grip said liner between said lirst named means and said casing to anchor said sloped end of said liner against movement relative to said casing and provide a seal between said sloped end of said liner and said casing, and means for moving a part of said liner normally disposed at said long side of said casing toward said short side of said casing adjacent said arcuate end thereof to collapse said casing to prevent the flow of materials therethrough and move said liner to a position in which a part thereof intermediate said means and said end of said liner assumes a contour closely adjacent to and approximating that of said arcuately shaped one end of said casing.

6. A nonclogging outlet valve for a tank adapted for mixing cementitious materials and having a curved wall portion adjacent its lowermost position defining a discharge aperture, said valve comprising a cylindrical casing, a resilient tubular liner disposed within said casing, one end of said casing having an arcuate shape substantially the same as that of said Wall portion of said tank at said aperture and providing a long side of said casing and a short side thereof, said liner having its end adjacent said tank sloped similarly to said wall portion at said aperture and disposed close to said one end of said casing, said casing including a movable section at said long side thereof and having its end adjacent said tank inclined and disposed to overlie said liner adjacent said sloped end of said liner, a short tubular ferrule fitted within said sloped end of said liner to support a short portion of said liner at and parallel to said sloped end against collapsing, means for moving said movable section to grip said liner be tween said rst named means and said casing to anchor said sloped end of said liner against movement relative to said casing and provide a seal between said sloped end of said liner and said casing, and means for moving a part of said liner normally disposed at said long side of said casing toward said short side of said casing adjacent said arcuate end thereof to `collapse said casing to prevent the ow of materials therethrough and move said liner to a position in which a part thereof intermediate said means and said end of said liner assumes a contour closely adjacent to and approximating that of said arcuately shaped one end of said casing.

7. A non-clogging outlet valve for a tank adapted for mixing cementitious materials and having a curved wall portion adjacent its lowermost'point defining a discharge aperture and having an agitator blade which is moved along the inner surface of said wall portion during operation of said tank, said valve comprising a tubular casing having one end adapted to be secured to said tank around said aperture and formed with a curvature similar to that of said wall portion whereby said casing has a short side and a long side, a exible member received in said casing and having one end sealed to said casing to prevent access of said material between said casing and one side of said member, said member in its free position overlying at least the part of the inner surface of said casing at said long side thereof, said casing having an aperture radially thereof in said long side, a finger mounted for movement through said aperture between a closed position and an open position and being effective during movement from said open position to said closed position to move a part of said member from said long side of said casing toward said short side thereof to prevent the ow of materials through said casing, said aperture and said finger being so spaced relative to said one end of said casing that movement of said finger into said closed position causes a portion of said flexible member intermediate said part of said member and said one end thereof to assume a position in which it approximates the contour of the inner surface of said wall portion of said tank adjacent said aperture whereby said casing and said portion of said member defne a pocket outwardly of the inner surface of said tank which is so small that any masses of unmixed material collecting therein will be removed therefrom by the action of the agitator' blade before reaching a size suicient t0 produce a clogging effect, and means for moving` said iinger between said closed position and said open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 600,552 Parker Mar. 15, 1,898 1,392,601 Rose Oct. 4, 1921 1,660,242 Thomson Feb. 21, 1 928 2,113,022 Hefti Apr. 5, 1938 2,305,840 Brown et al Dec. 22, 1942 2,608,393 Hale Aug. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,012 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1848 

